State Comptroller Susan Combs asked people at 40 town hall meetings whether they are aware of the pre-existing debt when they vote in a bond election.

“Nobody, at any one of these town hall meetings knew,” said Combs at the Midland County Republican Women meeting on Wednesday.

She pointed out other instances of tax and debt ignorance, such as not knowing what the taxing entities are or what a special-purpose sales tax district is.

So to educate the masses about debt, Combs launched a website, Tell The Truth Texas. The website includes information on all upcoming school bond elections.

Combs teased to more information that will be released on the website next week, including the cost-per-student costs. She referenced one preschool in Austin -- a “Taj Mahal for tots” -- that cost $40,000 per student, she said.

Combs was not critical of the cost itself. It is the context of the debt that she was criticizing. She said students at this particular school were not using computers or “doing lasers.” After her speech she said it was overbuilt and very expensive.

“Debt is not intrinsically bad,” Combs said. “It, in fact, can fuel the economy. Debt can be terrific but you have to know what you are paying for.”

Combs provided statistics on debt in Midland County. Since 2004, the population has increased 25 percent and debt per capita increased 27 percent, according to Combs.

Though there are no spring bond elections in the area, Combs still stressed bond debt awareness.

Other topics the state comptroller discussed were the lesser prairie chicken and dunes sagebrush lizard, animals whose listings as endangered species could consequently endanger the oil and gas industry.

“The larger point I wanted to make is that these species keep coming and coming,” Combs said. “We’re ill-prepared, from the perspective of having adequate scientific information, to know whether it (lesser prairie chicken) is even remotely threatened or endangered or not.”

At-large candidates

The two City Council at-large candidates, Spencer Robnett and Keith McLelland, also spoke at the MCRW luncheon to reiterate their platforms.

Both candidates carried over their views from their previous City Council campaigns in 2013 -- a District 3 race for Robnett and the mayoral race for McLelland.

Both men share a common view when it comes to government transparency. Although Robnett did not bring up transparency during his speech, McLelland spoke mainly about that topic.

“I am for Midland growth; don’t misunderstand that,” said McLelland, speaking about downtown revitalization plans. “I just want the growth to be decided by us, and not others for us.”

Instead of transparency, Robnett talked about water, mentioning that it is his first issue.

“We can take action now to evaluate and hold meetings for public comment on desalination facilities, the feasibility and potential of having those done,” Robnett said.

When asked how they differ from each other, McLelland said he is an old man looking to help the city and is not interested in politics, whereas Robnett is a young man looking to get into politics. Robnett’s spoke about their age difference as well, but he also said a younger, energetic candidate is better-suited. He added that he plans to remain in Midland.

The special election is set for May 10.

Agriculture commissioner candidate

Wearing a large, white cowboy hat, agriculture commissioner candidate Sid Miller made his case to be the winner of the May 27 Republican runoff against Tommy Merritt.

Water, he said, will be his No. 1 focus if elected.

“We can start with conservation,” the fourth-generation Texas farmer and rancher said. “We have to look at things like rainwater harvesting.”

For those unaware of the agriculture commissioner position, Miller said the position is about promoting Texas agriculture products and consumer protection. Ways that the state Department of Agriculture protects consumers include calibrating gasoline pumps, he said. The department also oversees $2 billion in food programs such as school lunch programs.

Miller’s campaign materials have a familiar name printed on them. Texas rocker Ted Nugent, known for his controversial comments, is Miller’s campaign treasurer.

Though Miller said Nugent has a “colorful vocabulary,” he defended his treasurer, listing the philanthropic things Nugent has done, such as the Hunters for the Hungry program, which provides pork and venison to homeless shelters and food pantries.

“He gives back to America, he gives back to the country,” Miller said. “He does way more good than when he stumbles every once in a while, with the use of his adjectives when he describes the president.”